Clinics and Externships

Clinics and externships are excellent ways to get hands-on, real-world experience in law school. At New England Law | Boston, you can participate in clinics early and often. Below you'll get a sense of what these invaluable practical experiences entail.

“My goal in law school was to get as much experience as possible. The clinics at New England Law gave me a broad range of opportunities to do so. They allowed me to build my résumé extensively and intern at places I can see myself at in the future.” —Roxanne Bailey ’18

Clinical law courses allow you to get hands-on experience in real-world legal settings, putting your classroom learning into practice. You’ll develop critical lawyering skills and represent real clients, while receiving academic credit. Law clinics also offer excellent opportunities to perform public service and public-interest legal work.

New England Law encourages students to take clinics early and often. You can take up to four legal clinics before graduation—potentially starting as early as the first semester of your second year. This allows you to try different areas of law, build your résumé, and boost your networking efforts. All clinics are open to part-time students as well, and every effort is made to accommodate their unique schedules.

FACT:89% of the Class of 2019 (full-time students) took at least one clinic/externship. 43% took two or more.

In-House Law Clinics

Public Interest Law Seminar and Clinic

During this one-semester program, students can spend up to fifteen hours per week in the field. Placements include the New England Law Clinical Law Office, as well as off-site placements such as Greater Boston Legal Services, where students handle civil cases. The seminar portion focuses on issues such as poverty, race, and access to justice. Learn more.

The Lawyering Process

This one-semester program serves as an introduction to civil litigation. On-site placements include the New England Law Clinical Law Office, and off-site placements include Greater Boston Legal Services. Students practice under Rule 3:03 of the Supreme Judicial Court, typically representing indigent clients. Learn more.

Legal Externships

Administrative Law Clinic

Students spend up to fifteen hours per week in field placements inside agencies, organizations, or other offices in which they gain exposure to administrative law. Placements can range from acting as a law clerk for an administrative law judge to advocating before an agency. Learn more.

Business and Intellectual Property Law Clinic

Students spend up to fifteen hours per week in the field, gaining exposure to the practice of business and/or intellectual property law. They might work in government agencies, private law firms, nonprofit organizations, the legal department of businesses, and other placements related to compliance. Learn more.

Criminal Procedure II Clinic

This clinic examines the legal issues that arise in the various stages of criminal adjudication. Students are placed in District Attorneys’ Offices or at the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the public defender in Massachusetts. Equivalent placements in neighboring states are allowed as well. Learn more.

Environmental Law Clinic

Placements include government agencies, private firms, or public interest organizations. Students spend up to fifteen hours per week in the field, exploring a wide range of legal issues related to environmental law. Learn more.

Family Law Clinic

Students in this clinic work in a variety of family law settings, spending up to fifteen hours per week in the field. Placements may include legal services offices, public interest organizations that combat domestic violence, Probate and Family Court, governmental agencies, and private law firms. Learn more.

Federal Courts Clinic

This clinic involves a single placement: the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office. Students work under the supervision of a designated assistant US attorney on a wide variety of matters that fall within the jurisdiction of the Civil Division, such as immunity defenses, government enforcement actions, and civil rights litigation. Learn more.

Government Lawyer Clinic

Placements in this clinic include the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office under the supervision of Assistant Attorneys General or another government agency. Students also attend a weekly class that explores the skills required in representing the government as well as policy issues. Learn more.

Health Law Clinic

Students in this clinic work in a placement with legal work in the area of health law. Placements may include one or more hospitals, government agencies, legal services offices, and private law firms. Students spend up to fifteen hours per week in the field. Learn more.

Immigration Law Clinic

Placements in this clinic include public interest and private law firm settings related to immigration law, such as the Immigration Unit at Greater Boston Legal Services. Students spend up to fifteen hours per week in the field, assisting attorneys who specialize in immigration law. Learn more.

Land Use Law Clinic

Placements in this clinic consist primarily of city and town counsel offices, zoning boards, or private firms that handle land use matters. Learn more.

Massachusetts Practice Clinic

Students in this clinic are placed initially in the Suffolk County Superior Court Clerk's Office assisting the clerks. After approximately three weeks, students are assigned to Superior Court Judges in Suffolk County, where they work as law interns for the remainder of the semester. Learn more.

Mediation and Dispute Resolution Clinic

Placements in this clinic involve a range of settings that expose students to various aspects of dispute resolution, including mediation and negotiation. Learn more.

Tax Clinic

Placements in this clinic involve a range of settings that expose students to various aspects of tax law.Learn more.

With all the clinic experience I gained, I was able to secure a position as an Honors Attorney with the Department of Justice.” —Jessica Rodenhiser ’18